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Out of the Frying Pan into the Sink
The Trofeo Melinda in the Italian Alps today was a sodden experience for the
Linda McCartney Pro Cycling Team. After a week racing and training in the
Veneto region at a sweltering 34 degrees, race day dawned wet and
uncompromisingly cool. It was just 13 degrees at the team hotel in the tiny
De Pasquale (white helmet), seen at this
year's Giro, is back from tonsillitis - (69kb)
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mountain hamlet of Salter di Romanda.
The race's sponsor is a fruit producer among these beautiful valleys, and the
riders must have been tempted to sample the juicy Melinda apples overhanging
much of the route. Older Italian fans would have advised them against it,
remembering the fate of Italy's first cycling superstar, Octavio Bottechia.
One of the stories concerning his mysterious death maintains the pre-war
campionissimo was allegedly murdered by a local vine farmer. He is said to
have caught Bottechia eating his ripening grapes during a training ride when
the great man was at his peak.
The McCartney squad was bolstered by the return of one of their Italians,
Maurizio De Pasquale, sufficiently recovered from his tonsillitis to take the
start line, but not enamoured of the weather. The start was a good
opportunity to meet up with old friends, as Great Britain's David Millar of
Cofidis arrived, talking of his impending Olympic date alongside Linda
McCartney's Max Sciandri. Max was left warming the bench today, in readiness
for the weekend's double of the Coppa Placci and Giro del Romagna, expected
to suit him more than this attritional mountain course.
The intimidating field also included Credit Agricole's number one line-up,
with Stuart O'Grady, Magnus Backstedt and Bobby Julich. Michele Bartoli is
still honing his form to ensure his favourite's status for Sydney, and he led
a mighty Mapei octet. Last year's winner Mauro Gianetti was accompanied by
Casagrande and Donati in a strong Vini Caldirola team, while Boogerd,
Sorensen and the Zbergs were all here for Rabobank. Saeco, Fassa Bortolo,
Liquigas, Bonjour, Mercatone Uno and Polti all sent powerful squads for the
contest.
Linda McCartney's riders were breathing fire today, if not from Sean Yates's
attacking game-plan, then Adrian Timmis's mustard rolls. Irish Olympian
Ciaran Power, American Matt De Canio and returning Italian Maurizio De
Pasquale all launched attacks, but they were not able to challenge the solo
winner, Liquigas rider Gorazd Stangelj of Slovenia. The finale was played out
on live Italian TV, and cleverly scheduled to finish early to enable viewers
to follow their Trofeo Melinda coverage before switching to the Tour of Spain.
Report by John Deering
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